Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-01-27
A RARE CASE
A Delicate Operation Successfully Performed
by a Cincinnati Surgeon.


by Cincinnati Surgeon.
The readers of the Enquirer will re-
member having seen in last Sundays is
sue an sccount of a colored woman nam
ed Lizzie Lewis having been stabbed in
the abdomen by another colored woman
during a Christmas fight. The ARRAY
took place Saturday morning about 10
O'Clock, and it was near IL when she ar
rived at the hospital. On examination
il was found that she had received a
wound in the lower portion of the abdo-
men, to the right of the median line, the
knife having penetrated the walls, allow
ing the abdominal contents to escape.
About six inches of the small intestine
protruded, and was so tightly construct
ed by the margins of the wound that it
was intensely congested and could not
possibly have remained long in this con-
dition without becoming dangerous.
Although the incision was only an inch in
length, yet the part that escaped was
as large as quart cup. The woman was
much prostrated from shock and fright,
and it was feared she would be unable to
stand the additional shock of an opera
ton. But immediate action was her only
chance of life. Hence she was placed on
the operating table and an@sthetized.
When fully under the influence of ether
the parts were all carefully sponged with
an antiseptic solution, and an attempt
made to reduce the protruding bowel
without charging the opening, but the
wound in the muscular wall held it like a
vice, and all attempts of this kind proved
futile. grooved director of silver was
then carefully slipped in at one angle of
the wound, and great care exercised to see
that no piece of the intestine would be
wounded when the incision was made.
Very cautiously the surgeon slipped the
tissue with q blunt-pointed knife until
the resistance gave way. The bowel was
then closely inspected to ascertain if any
punclure had been inflicted, either dur
ing the operation or from the primary
stab. All being found intact, it was push
ed back with peculiar flop, and the
edges of the wound became approximate
ed. A slight amount of blood escaped,
which was sponged away. All the tissues
and about the wound were then
cleansed with the antiseptic To-
ton. In closing the opening
three silver sutures were used being
passed entirely through the thickness of
the abdominal walls at about a quarter of
an inch from the edges of the wound.
While introducing these the finger was
kept under them to prevent the passage
of the needle through any other part,
and in drawing the edges into position
the finger was constantly on the alert,
and thereby avoided pincEing any tissue
up which would afterward have caused
trouble. Antiseptic dressings were ap-
Piled over the part, and opium given
freely TO counterfeit the peritonitis which
would likely ensue and which is one of
the most deadly maladies the sergeon has
to encounter. She has been kept quiet
on her back and sustained on milk died
exclusively. Her attendants have been
gratifed TO see but little rise of temper
ature never much exceeding 100 degrees,
and this has now entirely subsidized. The
wound has closed without the least diff
Guilty. She asks for solid food and shows
every indication of a speedy and absolute
recovery. The case is a rare one indeed,
as patients seldom recovery from such
wounds